Route to Cranmere Pool

Hi All

Sorry we have not posted for a while but we have been visiting the forum, busy at home and letterboxing whenever we can get away.

We were pleasantly surprised to see that our posting "Route to Fur Tor" had attracted 3700+ views!

We wondered if this posting would also help us and be of interest to others.

We have visited Cranmere via OP15. This year we would like to visit via Tavy Cleave.

Has anyone experience of this route? Should we go north, along and up Amicombe to Great Kneeset, then exactly due east to Cranmere.

Or should we continue NE, past Little Kneeset, along Black Ridge Brook, up to Black Ridge peat pass and then onto Cranmere?

Did that route many years ago - at his time of year stay away from Amicombe Brook unless you want a million midge bites.

I remember two guts counting their bites as they only wore shorts and tee shirts on the day and both were well over a thousand bites on the day and they were still counting when I left them!!!
We did that route on a ten post box walk which was a lot of fun collected about 39 boxes on the day too if memory serves... nice walk

Clean forgot about the little beasties. We once had a similar experience with them in Scotland. Will be interesting for us to see how we get on with midges this year: we have got into the habit of eating a clove of raw garlic each day for its medicinal properties. Have heard that it is also an insect repellant if taken over a sustained period.

So, notwithstanding midges or the time of year, head for Black Ridge peat pass or Great Kneeset?

Yes, it does seem a nice long walk on the map, one that will be remembered, where the achievement of obtaining out-of-the-way boxes outweighs the quantity of finds. But what's the going like - Tussocky, boggy...?

Washing with Wrights coal tar soap helps to deter the midges, also bog myrtle oil. Personally I like to go in to Cranmere from Belstone.

I have visited Cranmere Pool twice, both on TPBW's. Once from Belstone and the other from The Dartmoor Inn at Lydford. I remember the one from Belstone being a long old haul (probably because I wasn't feeling 100%) but I have a fond memory from the approach from the west. We visited Doe Tor, then Hare Tor and rather than head directly for Fur Tor we walked south-eastwards. A mate of mine was 'in charge' of the map and as we trudged over the rugged grassy terrain. I enquired as to how near we were to crossing the river, and before he could answer the vast Tavy Cleave appeared almost out of nowhere. It sounds a bit stupid but the grass either side of the Cleave seemed to blend into one land mass until we got really close to it. It would have been at, roughly, 554 832 that we witnessed this fantastic sight.

I'm hoping to visit Cranmere Pool one weekend this year, so all tips on the easiest route would be great as I'll be on my own.

Tina

Hi Fulchet

We went a couple of years ago via OP15 -surely the easiest way if your car's suspension could manage the military track. If you would be using a gps from Ockerton Court Pool then a straight line to Cranmere would not be the easiest - very tussocky. On our way back we were fortunate enough to find a sheep track that was very easy, and took us most of the way back. You won't seen the box until you are almost upon it as it is in a hollow. Have you seen the site: http://www.richkni.co.uk/dartmoor/cranmere.htm He has wonderful photos to illustrate this walk (as with many others)

Thanks Mr Cock and Mrs Chicken - great link.

I'm busy with the Band over the coming weeks, with the summer season being upon us, lots of fetes, etc., so probably won't be able to do this until end of August - although hopefully will be dry under foot. However, it is my aim to get there this year.

Which road takes you to OP15 - I'll be driving from Saltash - and is OP15 easy to find?

Thanks

Tina

from okehampton camp, use the east access road which is shown on the os map . . . check firing times.

According to the gazetteer the GR for OP15 is 6025 8778. The older OS maps had "observation post" marked on them but recent editions have ommitted.

thanks everyone - I might aim to do this August Bank Holiday weekend, so long as I'm not playing at a gig. Can't wait.
Tina

I'm not around on August bank holiday (biker party at a friend's place, camping. riding bikes around his field and drinking far too much beer) otherwise I'd suggest meeting up.

I'm finding Google Maps useful, there is often enough detail to see tracks over the Moor which may not be obviouis on the ground and which can affect the route I choose.

I can't help feeling that driving 3/4 of the way to Cranmere Pool (OP15) and walking the final 1/4 distance takes away the magic.

Reaching the ulimate box feeling completely knackered, with the weather taking a turn for the worst and facing a ten mile trek back to the car is fantastic!!

cranmere wrote:I'm finding Google Maps useful, there is often enough detail to see tracks over the Moor which may not be obviouis on the ground and which can affect the route I choose.

That sounds like a great idea Cranmere - I might give that a go.

Thanks

Tina

The Lost Legionnaire wrote:I can't help feeling that driving 3/4 of the way to Cranmere Pool (OP15) and walking the final 1/4 distance takes away the magic.

Reaching the ulimate box feeling completely knackered, with the weather taking a turn for the worst and facing a ten mile trek back to the car is fantastic!!

I can hear where you're coming from. However, a five mile round trip over not the best terrain sounds fine to me. If I was a bit fitter and not on my own, then the 20 mile round trip would be fine.

Tina

Fair enough. As I said earlier I've been there twice before, both in the middle of mighty hikes. When I make my third pilgrimage it will probably be via OP15.

The Lost Legionnaire wrote:I can't help feeling that driving 3/4 of the way to Cranmere Pool (OP15) and walking the final 1/4 distance takes away the magic.

Reaching the ulimate box feeling completely knackered, with the weather taking a turn for the worst and facing a ten mile trek back to the car is fantastic!!

Doing the walk on Sunday with Jenny & James and Crafty Jo - we're doing the walk down from Belstone waterworks - so won't be "cheating" quite so much.

Tina

Certainly no cheating - quite a decent walk by the looks of the map. See you there!

Can I just add a quick thought about the military road option? I've plodded across the moor many times and then found (as e.g. under Yes Tor) family cars parked all over the place. Maybe this makes me a Moor snob, but I'd be very happy if those roads were gone - this is supposed to be a wilderness after all. Also it removes a lot of the challenge if your second available route only demands a short stroll from the military road. The more I walk on the Moor the more I recognise how small and precious it actually is - I'd like to set back these incusions! Would be interested in others views!

Happy letterboxing, Duckpool

Maybe this makes me a Moor snob

What being in a huge 4x4 ripping the guts out of the surface of the moor?

I hope not - I believe you are like the rest of us - a true walker of the moor and respect the ground you walk on.

Anyway welcome to the site - it is nice to see a new face on here and you are welcome to post whatever you feel like on here (so long as it is legal )

As for myself I have been there three times once in the most torrential down pour you have ever seen and all from different directions.
My most enjoyable route was from Mary Tavy way...

Think we are going to save this one for the summer or maybe over the festive period

I made the trip to Cranmere Pool today and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Didn't bump into a soul all day. It was great. Here's a few photos:-

Great pictures. Looks like you were lucky with the weather too.
I see in one of your pics the bog cotton. I think this year is the most I have seen on the moor.

kk wrote:Great pictures. Looks like you were lucky with the weather too.
I see in one of your pics the bog cotton. I think this year is the most I have seen on the moor.

Yes, I've seen loads this year. There was a lot around Tavy Cleave when I was up there a couple of weeks ago.

It tipped down just after I took those photos but didn't last for too long.

kk wrote:I see in one of your pics the bog cotton. I think this year is the most I have seen on the moor.

Yes, I was going to ask about this too.

So far this year it seems that some of the hawthorn trees were really covered in blossom. When we had a couple of windy days, a lot fell to the ground and it looked like it had been snowing! I've seen areas of sorrel that looked definitely larger than last year, and the bedstraw also seems to be out in masses. Ironically, tormentil seems about the same. I noticed the bog cotton near Leedon Tor (driving back from Princetown), and it looked just like a white blanket. I'm sure it was never this widespread before. Quite amazing.


John.

Fulchet wrote:I made the trip to Cranmere Pool today and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Didn't bump into a soul all day. It was great.

Hurrah! Well done Fulchet

I have been there once, and I admit I drove my 4x4 (no longer have it) to OP15. Walked to Ockerton Court, and then a straight line to Cranmere. This was during a very warm/hot summer and the ground was pretty much dry. (So probably good for me, but not good for the flora/fauna.) Leaving Cranmere my dog almost fell completely into one of those peat slits (I think they have an actual name, but cannot remember it. There's a photo of one on Richard Knights web site - URL previously posted.) The little chap didn't make a sound, but fortunately I looked around and he was hanging on with just his front legs - his back legs were dangling in thin air! The slit was very narrow, probably about a foot or so across, and I have no idea how deep. Scared me silly.



John.

Duckpool wrote:Can I just add a quick thought about the military road option? I've plodded across the moor many times and then found (as e.g. under Yes Tor) family cars parked all over the place.

I have to admit that I am surprised that people drive their 'ordinary' cars to places like OP15. I just don't think I would take the risk. I tend to park at Rowtor, and then just walk - although I should perhaps admit that I have driven a 4x4 to OP15. As was mentioned in a previous posting some time ago, I think it was google earth that showed it was possible to park up by Dinger Tor. Considering there is a track leading up to it, I guess people may well use it.

Perhaps it would be better to restrict traffic to just the ring road, and not the side tracks? It might deter some people.


John.

Mr Cock & Mrs Chicken wrote:According to the gazetteer the GR for OP15 is 6025 8778. The older OS maps had "observation post" marked on them but recent editions have ommitted.

And I wish the O/S would put them back on - even if it was just as 'OP'. They are a structure, and could be useful in navigation.


John.

Fulchet wrote:

cranmere wrote:I'm finding Google Maps useful, there is often enough detail to see tracks over the Moor which may not be obviouis on the ground and which can affect the route I choose.

I have used Google Earth, it is excellent for zooming in and following tracks to different places. It has proved useful in shortening the distance that I have had to walk on occasions.

Yes I'll be walking out with a couple of friends this weekend so really looking forward to it. I am really lucky to be living down here and able to get out most weekends and holidays. It's a great hobby.

I was looking through the catalogue this morning and i noticed that cranmere pool is listed as No.12, does anyone know why as the first ever letterbox it didnt get No.1? Also, what were/are No's. 1 to 11?

I don't know why it is not number 1 but a Google search I did shows that below are the first ever 15 Dartmoor letterboxes:

1. Cranmere Pool - 603 858

2. Lints Tor - 580 875

3. Duck's Pool - 624 679

4. Teign Head - 614 840

5. Fur Tor - 588 831

6. Taw Marsh - 620 905

7. Crow Tor - 607 7871

8. Fox Tor - 6260 6980

9. Flat Tor - 609 816

10. Potato Cave - Secret

11. Grants Pot - 6299 6710

12. Cuckoo Rock - 5848 6871

13. High Willhays - 580 894

14. Fish Lake - 643 678

15. Hen Tor - 5933 6530

I can't vouch for its authenticity though.

Hi nearly right - the first 15 boxes were put out as below
1: Cranmere Pool 1854
2: Belstone Tors/Taw Marsh 1894
3: Ducks Pool 1938
4: Fur Tor 1948
5: Cuckoo Rock mid/late 1950's
6: Sittaford Tor 1959
7: Hen Tor 1958/59
8: Crow Tor 1962
9: Childe's Tomb 1965
10: High Willhays 1966
11: Bleak House 1967
12: Cosdon 1968
13: Fish Lake 1968
14: Black Lane Brook near Ducks Pool (Grants Pot) late 1960's
15: Linvingstone Waterfalls (Winney's Trough) late 1960's

All above courtesey of a book on letterboxing by Chips Barber. There was always a very old one sited on Fox Tor but doesn't appear in his list, so perhaps was sited after 1960.

Watern Tor is number 1 in the current catalogue. Visited the tor in my pre-letterboxing days, guess I should add it to my list of 'places to visit' and stamp up!
Huntingdon Warren is no 4.
Without trawling the catalogue I'm not sure of any other very low numbered ones.

Hen Tor, Beardown Man and Cock's Hill are no longer listed. Without checking them all I suppose it is inevitable that they will all disappear over time

Aquarius? What or where is that? (Not listed in the current catalogue either.)

thanks sly fox,

thats added some places to my to do list!

I can fill in a few more for you from my collection:-

02 - Wild Tor
11 - Bleak House
15 - Yealm Head
18 - Hare Tor No:1
21 - Tavy Head
31 - Walkham Step
44 - Great Kneeset
51 - Yes Tor Visitor
52 - Smallbrook Head
66 - West Mil Tor
67 - Corn Ridge
73 - Henroost
78 - Sandy Hole Pass
82 - Black -a-Tor Beara
92 - Sandy Ford
99 - Spanish Lake

Not sure though if any of the above would still be on site, but in early days ammo cans were used for the boxes and did tend to withstand weather etc.

Also:

54 - East Dart Head
(119 - Easdon Tor)


Personally I think the ones within the lower thousand numbers - say 4-5,000 - are also well worth getting. The stamps usually seem to be quite good. My last one - number 4960 ('country matters') - was still in an old ammo tin. Found it by chance I should add



John.